Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - May 7, 2025
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Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - May 7, 2025
The Valdez City Council held its regular meeting on May 7, 2025, beginning at 7:00 PM following a work session on Title 16 Subdivision Code Revision. The meeting covered election certification, contract approvals, code amendments, and property tax resolutions. Councilmember Sorum was absent and excused. A total of 343 ballots were cast in the May 6 municipal election, a turnout of 10.89%.
Consent Calendar
- Approval to go into Executive Session regarding the City Manager contract.
- Proclamation: Public Service Recognition Week – Mayor Fleming proclaimed the week of May 4–10, 2025, as Public Service Recognition Week in Valdez.
- Both items were approved unanimously (6-0-1).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Amber Dennis (Marketing Manager, Valdez Museum) highlighted the museum’s annual appeal, a new exhibit titled "Rarified Light" (Alaska’s largest fine art photography exhibition), and a new membership structure aiming to offer free admission to residents. She thanked the council for support.
Discussion Items
- Certification of Election Results (May 6, 2025) – City Clerk reported 343 ballots cast (306 regular, 31 absentee, 6 questioned). One ballot not counted due to voter being registered in Kenny Lake. Elected officials: Joy Whitney (228 votes) and Dominique Lumbo (275 votes) to City Council; Scott McCombie (264 votes) and Sonia Ash Salanovich (186 votes) to School Board. Motion to certify carried unanimously.
- Contract Amendment #2 with X-DLX Investments – $5,000 for maintenance of turf, landscape, and pond water along the main highway right-of-way. City Manager Duval explained DOT’s mowing is minimal and the city previously funded this work; the amendment restores service. Approved unanimously.
- Change Order #1 with Harris Sand & Gravel – $104,650 for pavement management Phase IIIB on Pioneer Drive. IT Director Osborne clarified the change order combines two projects for efficiency, avoiding separate bidding. Approved unanimously.
- Purchase Agreement with L3Harris – $695,000 for police and fire radios. IT Director Osborne stated this was a multi-year selection, the only vendor meeting emergency service needs; pricing under NASPO purchasing agreement. Approved unanimously (6-0-1).
- City Manager Contract with Nathan Duval – Moved to after executive session. Approved unanimously (6-0-1) with council members expressing full support for Duval’s leadership.
Ordinances
- #25-04 – RV Park and Tent Camping Code Amendment (Second Reading) – Postponed from previous meetings. City Manager Duval reported ongoing stakeholder meetings; target for resolution is May 12. Motion to postpone to May 20, 2025 was approved unanimously.
- #25-06 – Oil & Gas Property Tax Code Amendment (Second Reading) – City Attorney Staser explained two clarifications: expand taxability scope and allow Board of Equalization to hear taxability appeals. Adopted by roll call vote: 4 yes (Devons, Foster, Lowley, Scheidt), 1 no (Love), 1 abstain (Mayor Fleming), 1 absent (Sorum).
Resolutions
- #25-24 – Budget Amendment for Fuel Flowage Revenue – Recognizes revenue from Crowley Fuels LLC fuel dock lease agreements. Approved unanimously.
- #25-25 – 2025 Property Tax Rate and Mill Levy – Establishes the real/personal property tax rate and mill levy for municipal and school purposes. Finance Director Elson clarified an attached ICD (informal conference decision) showed a $0 adjustment. Approved unanimously.
Reports
- Community Service Organization Grant Program – Progress report provided; no action taken.
- City Manager Report – Duval noted a housing survey underway, successful Small Business Conference, and two state bills (HB 13 on property tax exemptions, HB 212 on municipal education contributions) where council may wish to send letters of support.
- City Clerk Report – Clerk noted upcoming strategic planning session (currently May 30–31; possible move to June 20–21 to increase attendance), attendance at IIMC conference, and need for two more volunteers to review All-America City scholarship applications (Mayor Fleming and Councilmembers Foster, Devons volunteered).
- City Attorney Report – Update on 2024 C-plan renewal (adjudicatory hearing pending), Escape property tax case (motion for summary judgment), and appeal of BMC 3.30 by Alaska Ventures (Board of Equalization hearing set for mid-June).
- Mayor’s Report – Mayor Fleming recapped the Small Business Conference, plaque ceremony for new cruise ship, and promoted “Puppies in the Park” event on May 10 at 9 AM.
Council Business from the Floor
- Councilmembers thanked outgoing members Sharon and Alan for their service, congratulated newly elected officials, and recognized city staff for Public Service Recognition Week. Councilmember Love also thanked Parks and Rec for Little League field preparation.
Executive Session
- The council entered executive session to discuss the City Manager contract (approved consent agenda item). Upon return, the contract was approved.
Key Outcomes
- Election results certified; new council members to be seated.
- Four contract actions approved (X-DLX, Harris Sand & Gravel, L3Harris, City Manager employment agreement).
- Ordinance #25-04 postponed to May 20, 2025.
- Ordinance #25-06 adopted (4-1-1).
- Both resolutions (#25-24, #25-25) adopted unanimously.
- City Manager contract approved, confirming Nathan Duval as City Manager.
- Strategic planning session dates under review (potential shift to June 20–21).
- Scholarship review committee formed (Mayor Fleming, Councilmembers Foster, Devons).
Meeting Transcript
All right, we'll go ahead and call this uh council meeting to uh order and uh please stand and legit relations to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice proll call. Okay, Mayor, um all council members are present except for council member Sorum, who is absent and excused this evening, and now um council member Foster is um attending remotely the approval of uh minutes. Uh are there any uh corrections to the March 18th meeting minutes? Hearing none, the minutes will stand as approved. At this time, we'll do uh public business from the floor. There's anybody from the public who wishes to come up and speak. Please do state your name and you have five minutes. Hi, I'm Amber Dennis. I'm the marketing manager. Oh, my cooking. Oh no, hit the hit the mic. Yep, turns right there. Hi, I'm Amber Dennis. Um, I'm the marketing manager for the Valveys Museum. And I just wanted to come and tell you about some things that are happening. We just launched our annual appeal. Um I think I'm gonna come and hand these out when I walk away so you can take a look at them. Uh we have a new exhibit that's just been installed, Rarified Light. It's Alaska's largest photography exhibition of fine art photography. One of the values of having exhibits like this visit the museum is we are listed as the place for this exhibit along with Anchorage, uh, Fairbanks, Kenai, Palmer, and we are on this postcard. I'll pass those around too. Um we are working on a whole new membership structure uh that we hope will give uh residents free admission to the museum. Any questions? Thank you for your continued support of the Valdez Museum. I just kind of pass these around real fast. Yes, by all means. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you for sending passengers to us the other day. They were so excited they met the mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any other public business from the floor? Okay, seeing none, we will go to the consent agenda. We have two items on the consent agenda. Uh approval to go into executive session uh regarding the city manager contract and proclamation for public service recognition recognition week 2025. Move to approve the consent agenda. Second. It's been moved by council member Lowley. Uh second by council member Devons to approve all items on the consent agenda. Okay, call for the vote. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed. All those opposed. Okay. We have six yes, one absent. Councilmember Soran.
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